Athletics can't hold five-run lead, lose to Larks

Thursday

Jun 13, 2013 at 10:11 PMJun 14, 2013 at 3:45 AM

By Globe Sports Staff

The Dodge City Athletics were spotted a five-run lead after two innings of play against the Hays Larks, but couldn't hold the lead to lose on the road 6-5 for their ninth straight loss.Dodge City (2-8, 0-8 Jayhawk) stranded eight baserunners — including three on third base — in the final three innings against the Larks (10-1, 7-1).Dodge City scored three runs in the top of the first inning. Zach Jacobs hits a double and later scored on a wild pitch; followed by RBI fielder's choices by Dillon Engelhart and Ben Gann.The Athletics added two more runs in the top of the second on a RBI double by Louis Diaz and a RBI single by Andrew Bynum. All five runs were scored off Larks' starting pitcher Jeff Chesnut.The Larks came back with two runs in the bottom of the third on a two-run single by Zair Koeiman.Hays used a two-run home run by MacKenzie Handel in the bottom of the fifth and tied the game in the sixth on a home run by Cody Daily.Dodge City had a chance to retake the lead in the top of the seventh, but came up empty with the bases loaded to keep the game tied. The Larks came back in the bottom of the inning to take the lead on a RBI single by Desmond Roberts.The Athletics had another chance to score in the top of the eighth by getting runners at second and third with two outs, but a strikeout ended the threat for the second straight inning.Dodge City got the tying run to third base when Diaz walked, stole second and went to third on a groundout; but a fly out gave Larks' reliever David Owen his second save against the Athletics in as many days.The Athletics will now have a seven-game homestead, opening with three Jayhawk League games today through Sunday against the Derby Twins followed by four games Monday through next Thursday versus the Denver Cougars. All seven games are scheduled to start at 7 p.m.